| Petersburg |
| November 28, 1864 |
| |
| General J. A. Early |
| |
| General, |
| A scout within enemy's lines reports
that he heard from many Federal officers, General Augur among them,
at the time they were abandoning the Manassas road, that it was
their intention to rebuild the Winchester & Potomac road and to
construct a new road from Winchester to Strasburg to connect with
the Manassas road, which, it was stated, was perfect to
Harrisonburg, except the bridges; that Sheridan would winter about
and in advance of Winchester to construct this railroad. Do you see
any indications of this being accomplished? I do not know in what
condition the railroad is between Strasburg and Harrisonburg {about
50 miles -- only the Strasburg to Mt. Jackson portion (26 miles) had
been laid by the pre-war Manassas Gap RR and I have seen nothing to
support the idea that the rest of the line was laid by the
Confederates, though they wanted to in 1861}, but, if the enemy is preparing to connect
Winchester
and Strasburg, it must be destroyed, and the rails, if possible,
carried to other roads. |
| Very respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| R. E. Lee |
| General |
|